OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Australia 2019

Australia has managed to decouple economic growth from the main environmental pressures
and has made impressive progress in expanding protected areas. However, it is one
of the most resource- and carbon-intensive OECD countries, and the state of its biodiversity
is poor and worsening. Advancing towards a greener economy will require strengthening
climate-change policy and mainstreaming biodiversity more effectively across sectors.This
is the third Environmental Performance Review of Australia. It evaluates progress
towards sustainable development and green growth, and includes special features on
threatened species protection and sustainable use of biodiversity and chemical management.

“Australia is home to a tenth of global species and is seen by many as synonymous with pristine coastal areas and an outback brimming with nature. However the country is increasingly exposed to rising sea levels, floods, heat waves, bushfires and drought,” said OECD Deputy Environment Director Anthony Cox, launching the Review in Canberra. “This makes it all the more important that Australia take a more proactive role in fighting climate change and addressing biodiversity loss.”